Darkman00
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July 12, 2012 at 1:00 am
Plea deal talks next for Gentz
By Christine Ferretti
The Detroit News
Detroit— The lawyer for a handyman who claims he was hired to kill Jane Bashara said Wednesday she hopes to move swiftly to cut a deal for her client now that he's twice been deemed competent for trial.
Joseph Gentz, who did odd jobs for Robert Bashara, has claimed the Grosse Pointe Park man offered him $2,000 and a Cadillac to murder his wife.
Gentz's attorney, Susan Reed, said she hopes to reach a plea deal in advance of her client's Aug. 13 preliminary examination on murder and conspiracy charges.
A plea agreement could clear the way for murder charges against Robert Bashara, who already is jailed on charges that he tried to hire a hit man to kill Gentz, according to some legal experts.
"Bob Bashara is in a tough spot," said Charlie Langton, a legal analyst and radio host on WXYT-AM (1270).
< SNIP >
Langton said plea bargaining for Gentz will likely include certain immunity for his testimony and a lengthy prison term.
"Gentz is not going to walk free," he said.
Prosecutors say the solicitation and homicide cases are separate, but Langton said trying the two together would strengthen their case against Bashara.
"There's a pattern of manipulation here that's conceptually easy for a jury to understand," he said.
Griem called the competency issue a "charade" being put on by Reed and prosecutors to buy time to negotiate a plea and to bolster Gentz's credibility and believability.
But Griem said the Bashara defense will be ready.
"When the bell rings and we've got to climb into the ring, we're going to climb in, play by the rules and present our case," he said.
"When all is said and done if the jury looks just at the evidence and the lack of evidence … Bob Bashara is going to walk out of the courtroom with me."
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Read more at the source from The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120712/METRO/207120402#ixzz20OtUh55D
Plea deal talks next for Gentz
By Christine Ferretti
The Detroit News
Detroit— The lawyer for a handyman who claims he was hired to kill Jane Bashara said Wednesday she hopes to move swiftly to cut a deal for her client now that he's twice been deemed competent for trial.
Joseph Gentz, who did odd jobs for Robert Bashara, has claimed the Grosse Pointe Park man offered him $2,000 and a Cadillac to murder his wife.
Gentz's attorney, Susan Reed, said she hopes to reach a plea deal in advance of her client's Aug. 13 preliminary examination on murder and conspiracy charges.
A plea agreement could clear the way for murder charges against Robert Bashara, who already is jailed on charges that he tried to hire a hit man to kill Gentz, according to some legal experts.
"Bob Bashara is in a tough spot," said Charlie Langton, a legal analyst and radio host on WXYT-AM (1270).
< SNIP >
Langton said plea bargaining for Gentz will likely include certain immunity for his testimony and a lengthy prison term.
"Gentz is not going to walk free," he said.
Prosecutors say the solicitation and homicide cases are separate, but Langton said trying the two together would strengthen their case against Bashara.
"There's a pattern of manipulation here that's conceptually easy for a jury to understand," he said.
Griem called the competency issue a "charade" being put on by Reed and prosecutors to buy time to negotiate a plea and to bolster Gentz's credibility and believability.
But Griem said the Bashara defense will be ready.
"When the bell rings and we've got to climb into the ring, we're going to climb in, play by the rules and present our case," he said.
"When all is said and done if the jury looks just at the evidence and the lack of evidence … Bob Bashara is going to walk out of the courtroom with me."
---------
Read more at the source from The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120712/METRO/207120402#ixzz20OtUh55D
